Fluid turning vane assemblies



March 21, 1967 E. L. CLARK ET FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28, 1965 KE RLMM ATTB LT m CUvM Tm N M N QM MY L B E f m FIG. 2

arch 21, 1967 CLARK ET AL FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Jan. 28, 1965 ELWOOD L. CLARK ALANHQTUTTLE INVENTORS March 21,1967 LCLAR ETAL 3,310,287

FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES Filed Jan. 28, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 -5FIG. 4

FIG. 7

ELWOOD L. CLARK ALAN H.TUTT LE INVENTORS March 21, 1967 CLARK ET ALFLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 28, '1965 IIzlllllll FIG. 8'

ELWOOD LLLARK ALAN H.TUTTLE INVENTORS -11 M United States Patent3,310,287 FLUID TURNING VANE ASSEMBLIES Elwood L. (Hark, WillingTownship, and Aian H. Tattle, Andover, N.Y., assignors to WorthingtonCorporation, Harrison N..l., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 28,1965, Ser. No. 428,688 6 Claims. (Cl. 253--7S) The present inventionrelates to fluid turning vane assemblies for use in turbines,compressors and similar fluid machinery; and to the fluid turning vaneunits which make up the said assemblies.

An object of the invention is the provision of fluid turning vaneassemblies comprising a plurality of interchangeable generally identicalturning vane units which maybe individually removed, as for example forreplacement, from a turbine or compressor casing without requiringremoval of the remainer of the said units.

Another object of the invention is the provision of turning vane unitsas above which are relatively simple, pre-fabricated design andconstruction whereby the cost of fabrication thereof is minimized.

Another object of the invention is the provision of turning vane unitsas above which are of particularly durable design and constructionwhereby long periods of satisfactory, maintenance-free operation thereofwhereby long periods of satisfactory, maintenance-free operation thereofunder demanding operational conditions, are assured.

A further object of the invention is the provision of fluid turning vaneassemblies as above which are particularly adaptable for use as exhaustturning vane assemblies in fluid turbines, as for example, double flow,power recovery gas turbines of the nature disclosed in the copendingapplication of Albert F. I-Ianschke et 211. SN. 446,665, filed April 1,1965, and assigned to the assignee hereof.

The above and other significant objects and advantages of the presentinvention as believed made clear .-by the follow detailed descriptionthereof taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of a turning vane unit of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an elevational view taken in the direction of the arrow 2 inFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional View taken along line 33 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are side, end, and top, plan views, respectively, ofthe left-hand side plate of a turning vane unit of the invention;

FIGURE 7 is a side plan view of the right-hand side plate of a turningvane unit of the invention;

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view of the exhaust diffuser of a doubleflow, power recovery gas turbine of the nature disclosed in thecopending application referred to hereinabove, and depicts two of theexhaust turning vane units of the invention operatively positionedtherein for function as exhaust turning vane units; and

FIGURE 9 is a view taken in the direction of the arrow 9 in FIGURE 8,and depicts the outlet end of the exhaust diffuser without the turningunits of the invention positioned therein.

Referring now to FIGURES 1 and 2, a turning vane unit of the inventionis generally indicated at 10 and comprises a left-hand side plate 12,and a similarly shaped right-hand side plate 14, respectively, spacedtherefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween. A plurality of fluidturning vanes 16, of appropriate areodynamic configuration, extended asshown between said side plates 12 and 14, and are securely affixedthereto in any satisfactory manner. Intermittent fillet welds asindicated at 18 in FIGURE 3 have proven satisfactory in affixing thesaid turning vanes to the said side plates. The respective turnice ingvanes and side plates are preferable pre-fabricated, as for example bystamping, from any suitable sheet metal, as for example Type 304stainless steel in the case of relatively high temperature gas turbineapplications.

A plurality of spring positioning tabs 20 are formed, as by punching, ineach of the side plates 12 and 14 and extend outwardly therefrom .awayfrom the turning vanes 16, in the manner made clear by FIGURE 1. A pairof spaced, attachment flanges 22 are formed at one extremity of theleft-hand side plate 12, as by bending over extending portions thereofin the manner indicated in phantom in FIGURE 4, and a pair of spaced,attachment flanges 24 are formed in a similar manner at thecorresponding extremity of the right-hand side plate 14. The respectivepairs of attachment flanges are positioned in staggered relationship onthe respective side plates of the turning vane unit in the manner madeclear by a comparison of FIGURES 7 and 8, for purposes described indetail hereinbelow. A bolt hole 26 is formed in each of the attachementflanges of the said pairs in the manner best seen in FIGURES 5 and 6.

Referring now to FIGURE 8, two turning vane units of the invention aredepicted in situ in the exhaust diffuser 28 at one end of a double flow,power recovery gas turbine of the nature referred to hereinabove. Inthis application, the said turning vane units will function as two ofthe larger plurality, as for example twenty-two, of the exhaust turningvane units whichmake up one of the exhaust turning vane assemblies ofthe said gas turbine. During operation of the said gas turbine, the hotexhaust gases flow from the last stage of the turbine rotor, asindicated'at 30, through the duct formed by said exhaust diffuser in thedirections indicated by the curved arrows 31 in FIGURE 8. Thus may bereadily understood whereby the turning vane units of the inventionfunction to turn the said exhaust gases and direct the same into anon-illustrated, outer exhaust casing for the ultimate exhaust thereofto the atmosphere. The exhaust diffuser 28 is of 360 extent, that is tosay the exhaust passage 32 formed between the walls thereof is in partof generally cylindrical configuration, whereby a plurality of theturning vane units of the invention may be positioned in the saidexhaust passage in a generally circular way to form an exhaust turningvane assembly of the requisite of 360 extent.

A plurality, as for example twenty-two in the case of an exhaust turningvane assembly which utilizes twentytwo of the turning vane units of theinvention, of inner cases ribs 34, of appropriate areodynamicconfiguration, extend as shown between the walls of the exhaust diffuser28, and it is these inner case ribs which are utilized for the readilyremovable positioning of the turning vane units 16 within the exhaustpassage 32. Y

The said inner case ribs are shaped as shown in FIG- URE 9, and inphantom in FIGURES 1 and 2, and are spaced from each other an arcuatedistance which is slightly greater than the arcuate width of a turningvane unit 10. Four threaded bores 36 are formed in correspondingextremities of the inner case ribs 34 in the manner made clear in FIGURE9. The turning vane units are positioned in the spaces 41 (FIGURE 9)between adjacent inner case ribs 34 by simply sliding the said unitsinto the said spaces as guided by the contact of the spring positioningtabs 20 and the sides of the said ribs. This contact between the saidtabs and the said ribs will also function to temporarily retain the saidunit between the said ribs, and prevent vibration of the former relativeto the latter during operation of the turbine. Further, the inherentresiliency of the said spring positioning tabs could function, in hightemperature turbine applications, to permit limited expansion of theturning vane units relative to the said ribs. Once a turning vane unit10 has Patented Mar. 21, 1967 been positioned between an adjacent pairof inner case ribs 34, and the screw holes 26 in the two pairs ofattachment flanges 22 and 24 of the unit, and two of the threaded bores36 in each of the said ribs, aligned, a socket-headed cap screw 38 ispassed through each of the said screw holes 26, a bearing washer 39(FIGURE 1), and firmly tightened into the said threaded bore 36 alignedtherewith to securely retain the turning vane unit in the exhaustdiffuser 28.

Since each inner case rib 34 supports the left-hand side plate 12 of oneturning vane unit, and the right-hand side plate 14 of an adjacentturning vane unit, in the manner made clear by the phantom depictions ofFIGURE 2, the respective positions of the pairs of attachment flanges onthe said left and right-hand side plates of each turning vane unit, arestaggered, as made clear by FIGURES 2, 4 and 8, whereby each turningvane unit is independently secured to an adjacent pair of inner caseribs 34 by four of the said cap screws 38, and may thus be removed fromthe exhaust diffuser 28 independently of adjacent turning vane units.Locking wires 40 are preferably utilized between adjacent pairs of thesaid cap screws 38 on each of the inner case ribs 34 to positivelyprevent loosening of the said cap screws as might otherwise beoccasioned, for example, by operational vibrations of the gas turbine.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thespecific construction or arrangement of parts shown but that they may bewidely modified within the invention defined by the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a fluid machine casing, a fluid duct formed by first and secondcasing walls, a plurality of spaced ribs extending between said wallsacross said fluid duct, said ribs each comprising an edge portion, aplurality of fluid turning vane units each of which is positionablebetween a pair of said spaced ribs, each of said fluid turning vaneunits comprising a first side plate, a second side plate spacedtherefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween, a plurality of spacedfluid turning vanes affixed to and extending between said side platesacross said fluid passage, positioning means on said side plates forpositioning said unit between a pair of said spaced ribs, and attachmentmeans on said side plates for attaching said unit to said edge portionsof said pair of spaced ribs whereby, said turning vane units may beremoved from said ribs by the removal of said attachment means from saidrib edge portions.

2. In a fluid machine casing, a fluid duct formed by first and secondcasing walls, a plurality of spaced ribs extending between said wallsacross said fluid duct, said ribs being disposed in said fluid duct sothat an edge portion of each of the former is located adjacent anextremity of said fluid duct, a plurality of fluid turning vane unitseach of which is positionable between a pair of said spaced ribs, eachof said fluid turning vane units comprising a first side plate, a secondside plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween, aplurality of spaced fluid turning vanes affixed to and extending betweensaid side plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on saidside plates for positioning said unit between a pair of said spacedribs, and attachment means on said side plates for attaching said unitto said edge portions of said pair of spaced ribs whereby, said turningvane units may be removed from said ribs adjacent an extremity of saidduct means by the removal of said attachment means from said rib edgeportions.

3. In a fluid machine casing as in claim 2 wherein, said attachmentmeans comprise attachment flanges formed at corresponding edges of saidside plates and extending therefrom in a direction away from said fluidturning vanes for contact with the edge portions of said pair of spacedribs.

4. In a fluid turning vane assembly for use in the casings of fluidmachinery such as turbines, compressors and the like which comprisecasing passages with spaced ribs extending thereacross, the improvementscomprising, a plurality of fluid turning vane units each of which ispositionable in a said casing passage between a pair of said spacedribs, each of said turning vane units comprising a first side plate, asecond side plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween,a plurality of fluid turning vanes affixed to and extending between saidside plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on said sideplates for positioning said unit between a pair of said spaced ribs, andattachment means on said side plates for attaching said unit to saidpair of spaced ribs, said positioning means comprising springpositioning tabs formed in said side plates and extending therefrom in adirection away from said fluid turning vanes for contact with the saidpair of said spaced ribs.

5. In a fluid turning vane assembly as in claim 4 wherein saidattachment means comprise attachment flanges formed at correspondingedges of said side plates and extending therefrom in a direction awayfrom said fluid turning vanes for contact with the said pair of spacedribs.

6. In a fluid turning vane assembly for use in the casings of fluidmachinery such as turbines, compressors, and the like which comprisecasing passages with spaced ribs extending thereacross, the improvementscomprising, a plurality of fluid turning vane units each of which ispositionable in a said casing passage between a pair of said spacedribs, each of said turning vane units comprising a first side plate, asecond side plate spaced therefrom to form a fluid passage therebetween,a plurality of fluid turning vanes afiixed to and extending between saidside plates across said fluid passage, positioning means on said sideplates for positioning said units between a pair of spaced ribs, andattachment means on said side plates for attaching said unit to saidpair of spaced ribs, said attachment means comprising attachment flangesformed at corresponding edges of said side plates and extendingtherefrom in a direction away from said fluid turning vanes for contactwith said pair of spaced ribs, there being a plurality of attachmentflanges formed on each side plate of each of said units with theattachment flanges formed at the edge of the first side plate beingpositioned in staggered relationship relative to the attachment flangesformed at the corresponding edge of the second side plate, whereby theattachment flanges on the first side plate of one of said units and theattachment flanges on the second side plate of another of said units maybe independently attached to the same casing rib without interferencetherebetween.

References Qited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,996,596 4/1935Smith 13839 2,705,973 4/1955 Kice l3839 2,826,221 3/1958 Speiser 138392,861,597 11/1958 Graccr I 138-39 2,959,195 11/1960 Gracer 138--392,960,306 11/1960 Collman et al 253-78 MARTIN P. SCHWADRON, PrimaryExaminer.

EVERETT A. POWELL, IR., Examiner,

1. IN A FLUID MACHINE CASING, A FLUID DUCT FORMED BY FIRST AND SECONDCASING WALLS, A PLURALITY OF SPACED RIBS EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID WALLSACROSS SAID FLUID DUCT, SAID RIBS EACH COMPRISING AN EDGE PORTION, APLURALITY OF FLUID TURNING VANE UNITS EACH OF WHICH IS POSITIONABLEBETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID SPACED RIBS, EACH OF SAID FLUID TURNING VANEUNITS COMPRISING A FIRST SIDE PLATE, A SECOND SIDE PLATE SPACEDTHEREFROM TO FORM A FLUID PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN, A PLURALITY OF SPACEDFLUID TURNING VANES AFFIXED TO AND EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SIDE PLATESACROSS SAID FLUID PASSAGE, POSITIONING MEANS ON SAID SIDE PLATES FORPOSITIONING SAID UNIT BETWEEN A PAIR OF SAID SPACED RIBS, AND ATTACHMENTMEANS ON SAID SIDE PLATES FOR ATTACHING SAID UNIT TO SAID EDGE PORTIONSOF SAID PAIR OF SPACED RIBS WHEREBY, SAID TURNING VANE UNITS MAY BEREMOVED FROM SAID RIBS BY THE REMOVAL OF SAID ATTACHMENT MEANS FROM SAIDRIB EDGE PORTIONS.